What is the significance of intellectual property

Skip to main content Skip to page navigation. In association with. An IP portfolio can really help attract investors and shows you are confident in managing these assets. Increase your IP knowledge. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email. Read full Close. Some of the easier ways to increase your IP knowledge. Common mistakes. Do document any arrangement made between employers and employees not covered in the employment agreement.

Rating form How helpful was this information? For example, copyright in literary, musical, artistic and dramatic works, a film or an original database expires 70 years after the death of the author while in the case of sound recordings, broadcasts, cable programmes and typographical arrangements, the duration is 50 years.

The owner of the database right has the right to undertake or authorise others to extract or re-utilise all or a substantial part of the contents of a protected database. A database is protected where there has been a substantial investment in obtaining, verifying or presenting the contents of the database. This right is separate to copyright.

The duration of the database right is 15 years from the end of the calendar year in which the making of the database was completed or it was first re-utilised. A design can be registered if it is new and has individual character. A design can be registered in Ireland or Europe for a period of 5 years and then renewed, for periods of 5 years, to a maximum period of 25 years.

A patent gives the inventor the exclusive right, for a limited period, to prevent others from using his invention without permission. An invention is patentable if it is:. A full term patent is registered for 20 years. In Ireland, it is also possible to register a short term patent for 10 years. In exchange for this right, the patent owner makes technical information about the invention publicly available in the published patent document.

A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises. Trademarks date back to ancient times when artisans used to put their signature or "mark" on their products.

An industrial design constitutes the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. A design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color. Geographical indications and appellations of origin are signs used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, a reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin.

Most commonly, a geographical indication includes the name of the place of origin of the goods. Trade secrets are IP rights on confidential information which may be sold or licensed. The unauthorized acquisition, use or disclosure of such secret information in a manner contrary to honest commercial practices by others is regarded as an unfair practice and a violation of the trade secret protection.

WIPO runs workshops, seminars and training courses throughout the year, both in Geneva and worldwide. Year-round roving seminars help businesses, researchers, lawyers and innovators stay on top of latest developments in global IP services. Understanding the different types of intellectual property will help you protect these intangible assets of your business.

There are four main types of IP assets a company may own:. This section defines aspects such as who owns what intellectual property assets, any licenses are given, any use restrictions, or how the other party may use your trademarks.

Companies often default to language granting them the rights to all intellectual property created by a contractor providing services.

Suppose background IP rights are given to another company. It can prevent the contractor from using the assets in future work with other clients. Another IP concern in contracts is your trademarks.